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Kambucha For Your Health

What is Kambucha? If you’ve never heard of it, it is a great drink that can really boost your health. It was believed to have been originally from Asia and spread from the Far East to Europe and today it is practically a staple in the diets of the health and wellness groups all over the world.

It is made from a SCOBY (symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast), which is a rubbery organism that you put in sweetened green or black tea. You let it ferment in a glass container for about a week or so. As a culture, the SCOBY will digest the sugar in the tea and all its own will produce multiple organic acids, vitamin C and B, enzymes and amino acids. You can then add more tea, fruit juice or fruit to flavor this now fizzy delicious drink.

What Is Metabolic Syndrome?

Metabolic syndrome is not a disease but a group of risk factors such as high blood pressure, high blood sugar, unhealthy cholesterol levels, and increased abdominal fat. It tends to run in families, so you can be genetically predisposed to it. It is also more common among African-Americans, Hispanics, Asians, and Native Americans. As you get older, the risk of developing it tends to go up.

Metabolic syndrome can be a serious health condition that you should take seriously if you have been diagnosed with it. It can give you a higher risk of heart disease, stroke and vascular disease and you are more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes. It has become very common in the United States with close to 20 to 25 percent of adult Americans diagnosed with it, nearly 50 million Americans have it, according to the American Heart Association, that’s about one out of every six people!

Insulin resistance is a factor associated with it, which is where the body can’t use insulin efficiently. This creates issues because the body needs insulin to convert sugar and starch into energy and insulin is a hormone that helps move blood sugar into cells for this important purpose. Once you develop this, it can lead to high blood sugar levels and easy weight gain, especially around the mid-section. Instead of having energy it all goes to storing everything you eat into fat. This tends to be a hereditary condition, so if you have a history of it in your family or diabetes, you should be especially conscious of a healthy and active lifestyle.

The good news is that it can be easily controlled and reversed, mainly by simple changes to your lifestyle, such as a healthy diet and plenty of exercise. It is also possible to prevent or delay its onset, so a healthy and physically active lifestyle should be a lifelong commitment.

If you’ve recently been diagnosed with metabolic syndrome, you might be anxious and worried, but the best thing to do is be grateful and think of it as a wake-up call. It’s not something to ignore or mess around with, but instead a time to get serious about improving your overall health for life. Making some simple changes to your daily habits and eating routine that is recommended by your doctor can prevent serious illness in the future.

The Truth Behind The Diabetes Epidemic

Unfortunately the world is losing the battle against diabetes. Many experts believe the number of people now living with it is estimated to be over 380 million. This is mostly Type 2 diabetes that is directly related to obesity, a poor lifestyle, little or no exercise and eating an excess of processed foods lacking little if any nutritional value. We are creeping towards 10% of the world’s population having this disease (adults).

This is becoming a major health issue that is fast approaching near epidemic proportions across the world because there are more than 1.7 billion adults who are overweight, and approximately 300 million or more are considered obese. Even more tragic is this epidemic is trending towards younger and younger individuals, even as young as prepubescent ages. Sadly, there are now at least 150 million children worldwide who are overweight or obese.

In 3rd World countries over 70% of the population has Type 2 diabetes and this number is increasing each year. The most commonly affected are the people in the middle of their lives, between 35 and 65 years old, those years when they need to be the most productive.

In contrast, in developed countries people diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes are usually past the age of retirement and it occurs mostly in the highest poverty areas. Whether it is in developing or modern developed countries, poverty and a greater consumption of low cost per calorie foods, processed and packaged foods and sugary drinks goes hand in hand and makes Type 2 diabetes thrive.

This is a serious problem that needs serious solutions, nutrition education, lifestyle changes and better choices and avoiding these empty processed foods that increase the likelihood of obesity at any age.

A great start is to focus on eating healthy protein, vegetables, drinking lots of water and beginning an exercise program (even a small one). You’ll start to feel better, lose weight and have the energy and focus to make even more positive lifestyle changes!

Are You A Comfort Food Eater?

We all crave different foods, but especially during the cold part of the year. We get this feeling if we just eat certain things it will somehow give us a boost in energy and to our mood. The truth is most foods we crave are not healthy whole foods that will achieve this. Instead we tend to crave foods that do the opposite, like a soda or sweet indulgent coffee drink (both for the caffeine slump in the mid afternoon), processed foods filled with carbs and sugar or heavy fat items such as some hot fries through the drive through or a sweet milkshake. If you’re guilty of this, then you might just be guilty of being a comfort food eater.

The bummer is most of these comfort foods leave us in a bigger slump than we were already in and not long after they have passed over our lips (not to mention they all help pack on the pounds). New research shows that there’s also a link to eating these types of food and inflammation in our body that interferes with the mood regulating chemicals in our brains, possibly even leading to a depressed state.

However, did you know that when you eat heavy carb based foods, doing so actually fuels the production of serotonin? This is your brain’s neurotransmitter that makes you feel good and activates receptors in your brain that help control your appetite and your mood. Like in the winter right now, there is less daylight and so our bodies produce less serotonin. As a response to this we carb load to stimulate the production of more serotonin. It’s something to be watchful of though! Pick the right carbs to achieve this, like healthy complex carbs, not simple processed carbs.

Another fact is that fewer hours of daylight causes our bodies to produce more of the sleep inducing chemical melatonin. This is why we sometimes feel lethargic in the winter and it can cause you to crave sugar. This is another pitfall for many because gorging on sweets will ultimately leave you grumpy and sometimes even depressed. Consuming lots of sugar causes a blood-sugar spike in your body creating these challenging symptoms. Sugar can be a quick source of energy, but it’s a poor choice to get that much needed boost. A much better alternative is to get your lift from a great cup of delicious organic coffee….leave the sugar out though.

One of the best cures for consuming too many comfort foods is instead eating sunshine….getting plenty of vitamin D (which is actually a hormone, not a vitamin). It’s great for chasing away the seasonal winter blues but it also improves your production of serotonin and less melatonin, which will boost your energy and you’ll feel great. It’s an incredible immune booster that will help you get through the flu season! If you can’t actually sit in the sun or escape to the tropics, then definitely supplement this amazing hormone every day. You’ll feel the difference.

Amino acids are known to be the “building blocks” of life, but what most people don’t know is their long list of therapeutic roles in recovery from illness and contributing to good health.

They keep the gastrointestinal tract working, prevent aging and degenerative diseases, they have powerful antixodant properties, support the immune system, heavy metal detoxification, support the heart and nervous systems, regulate blood sugar (energy) and can restore vitality when needed.

Here is a list covering some of the main amino acids and just some of the things they do or help your body:

Alanine

metabolism of glucose

Arginine

tumors and cancer.

function of the immune system

liver detoxifier

increases sperm count

healing/repair of skin and connective tissue

muscle metabolism

proper nitrogen balance

weight loss by increasing muscle mass

regulation of many enzymes and hormones

release of growth hormone

new bone and collagen

Asparagine

balance within the central nervous system

amino acids convert to what they are supposed to in the liver

Aspartic

stamina

metabolism

chronic fatigue

neural and brain disorders

removes excess ammonia from the body

cell function and function of RNA and DNA

produces immunoglobulins and antibodies

Carnitine

transports long-chain fatty acids to provide muscle energy

uses fat as an energy source

diabetes

alcohol-induced fatty liver

heart disorders

blood triglycerides

weight loss

muscle strength

Citrulline

energy

immune system

detoxifies ammonia

Cysteine and Cystine

detoxifier

strong nails, skin and hair, produces collagen

free radicals

rheumatoid arthritis

hardening of the arteries

heavy metals chelation

iron absorption

fat burning

breaks down mucus

strengthens white blood cell activity

GABA (Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid)

neurotransmitter

anxiety, stress-related nervousness

epilepsy and hypertension

relaxant, increases libido

enlarged prostate

ADD

Glutamic

builds proteins

metabolism of sugars and fats

transports potassium across the blood-brain barrier

brain fuel

personality and childhood behavioral disorders

Glutamine

most abundant in the body, protein building block

can convert to glucose

energy source

fuel for cells lining the intestine

anti-inflammatory

mental functioning, helps with depression

athletic performance

gastritis, peptic ulcers, ulcerative colitis

Glutathione

antioxidant produced in the liver

detoxifies

supports red and white blood cells

carbohydrate metabolism

Anti-aging

breaks down oxidized fats that lead to atherosclerosis

Glycine

prostate gland

muscle degeneration

construction of DNA, RNA

synthesis of nucleic acids, bile acids

hypoglycemia

epilepsy

bipolar disorder, hyperactivity

low pituitary function

Histidine (or Histadine)

growth, repair of tissues

T-cell function

rheumatoid arthritis

maintenance of the myelin sheaths protect the nerve cells

sexual arousal

indigestion

production of red and white blood cells

removing heavy metals

Isoleucine

hemoglobin formation

blood sugar, energy levels

energy,endurance, healing, repair muscle tissue

mental disorders

Lysine

nitrogen balance

muscle mass, collagen formation, tissue repair

high serum triglycerides

concentration

bone and growth development in children

antibodies, hormones, and enzymes

calcium absorption

Methionine

pancreatitis

liver function

clogging the arteries

breakdown of fats

detoxifies heavy metals

brittle hair

osteoporosis

powerful antioxidant

excretion of estrogen

schizophrenia

tumors

Ornithine

muscle-building

immune system, liver function

detoxifies ammonia

liver regeneration

damaged skin, connective tissue

Phenylalanine and D,L-Phenylanlanine (DLPA)

alcohol withdrawal

osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis

vitiligo

mood elevator

sexual arousal

hunger, cravings for food

menstrual cramps, migraines, pain

Serine

metabolism of fats and fatty acids

growth of muscle

immune system

immunoglobulins and antibodies

moisturizing capabilities

Taurine

absorbing fats and fat-soluble vitamins

cardiac arrhythmias

cell membrane stability

brain cell overactivity

Congestive Heart Failure

diabetes

high blood pressure

building block for other Amino Acids

bile (digestion of fats)

serum cholesterol

edema, hypoglycemia

anxiety, poor brain function, seizures

Threonine

protein balance

collagen, elastin

liver, lipotrophic function

fatty liver

antibodies, immune system

Tryptophan

B3 (Niacin)

serotonin

normal sleep

depression and insomnia

mood stabilizer

hyperactivity in children

relieves stress

heart health

weight control by decreasing appetite

migraine headaches

Tyrosine

mood elevator

key component of melanin

suppresses your appetite, reduces body fat

adrenal, thyroid and pituitary glands

metabolism

chronic fatigue, anxiety, depression, allergies, headaches

alcohol, cocaine, addictive drugs withdrawal support.

Valine

stimulant

muscle metabolism, tissue repair

nitrogen balance

energy source for the muscles

Amino acids are powerful. They help cure disease, prevent disease, alleviate many symptoms, elevate our mood, and help us live longer and healthier lives! So go eat your healthy protein or drink a whey protein smoothie…. and give your body the tools it needs!

You may want to learn about candida. Often thought to be generally a problem for women, candida (yeast overgrowth) plagues both men and women and even children at times. If you’ve ever taken antibiotics, drank excessive alcohol, had a ton of unwanted stress or taken oral contraceptives then that alone makes you a candidate for too much candida.

Candida is from a yeast overgrowth that starts is in your stomach. Yeast occurs naturally in your intestines and is part of the natural flora and becomes unhealthy when it over grows and multiplies to unhealthy levels overtaking the good bacteria. It feeds off of sugar and simple carbohydrates, so eating a diet loaded with these creates the perfect environment for candida to thrive. Chances are if you eat this way all the time, then you will likely have moderate to severe candida ….making you feel less than optimal.

You can get a simple blood test for candida. If the levels are very high then that indicates likely candida. However, the most accurate test is a stool test.

Most doctors don’t test for or treat candida. The most effective way to treat or rule out candida as the cause of your symptoms is to change your diet and lifestyle. Many people do a 21 day diet elimination cleanse, eliminating ALL sugar, fruit and simple carbohydrates from their diet. By doing this, you are removing the food source for the candida which will kill it off and let your good bacteria do it’s job.

Foods to avoid:

Adding healthy amounts of probiotics and prebiotics to your daily diet regimen will also help immensely to create healthy levels of your good flora, especially after taking any courses of antibiotics.

Lower any unnecessary stress in your life and drink lots of water!

You will notice improvements in your symptoms within 3 weeks and get back to being your happy, healthy and energized self!

Besides a great cup of coffee, here are some natural food choices that can really perk you up when you need it:

1) Apples. These are high in antioxidants and natural sugars that give a healthy boost in energy. They’re convenient and easy because they don’t need to be refrigerated, so they can be ready to eat at any moment.

2) Eggs. Simply put, it’s much needed protein, which releases energy at a slower rate, keeping your blood sugar levels from changing too rapidly and making you feel tired. They are also rich in the B vitamins, iron, and healthy fats, that give you long lasting energy through the day.

3) Raw Almonds. More healthy fats and protein and even some fiber, all the while keeping your blood sugar levels balanced and staying energized. Snacking on a handful here and there as a snack is easy and perfect for a quick burst of much needed energy.

4) Dark Leafy Greens. Swiss chard, spinach, kale (among many others) are amazing greens loaded with all of the essential minerals and vitamins, that give tons of boosts to your energy levels. Make a quick salad, a side dish or blend into a green smoothie for that amazing jolt of much needed energy.

5) Kiwi. These are packed with potassium and vitamin C, which is a powerful antioxidant. They have the power to jolt your energy when you need it. They don’t need to be refrigerated and are so easy to eat. A plus, is their fiber content.

So when you’re feeling that mid-afternoon crash, snack on some of these great energy boosting foods instead of reaching for a soda or sugar, and see how your energy levels go up while still supporting your adrenal glands.

Drink plenty of water too! Dehydration is one of the main reasons for exhaustion.

Make sure you are getting plenty of hours of sleep you need each night. It’s something everyone needs more of. ( :

Living a nourishing protein centered lifestyle and all the health benefits surrounding it. Nutrition education and a mission of malnutrition abatement across the world. Inspired health writer and happiness advocate. ( : Spread a smile today.